Zenola Farm

zenola — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:16:55 +0000

Track record for ‘Gomeo’ in $50G Flying Mile Gomeo Romeo

Returning to the winners circle Gomeo Romeo – And all the winning connections Gomeo Romeo – Broke Auckland Reactor’s Cambridge Raceway 1609m record The Ian Small trained Gomeo Romeo broke Auckland Reactor’s Cambridge Raceway 1609m mobile record in tonight’s (Friday January 6) Group Two $50,000 Sky City Flying Mile. The harness racing record had stood for three years. The Presidential Ball gelding had to survive an inquiry before being awarded the race. The query occurred not long after the start when Gomeo Romeo and Harrison Maguire were involved in a speed duel. When Gomeo Romeo crossed Sammy Maguire the latter broke for a few strides but the Small runner was declared the winner just 10 minutes after the siren rang. At the finish Gomeo Romeo and David Butcher paced the mile in 1:53.22 – 0.34 of a second quicker than ‘The Reactor’s 2009 record. It was his 13th win from 50 starts and sixth from 10 attempts at Cambridge. It was also his fourth win from seven starts over the mobile mile. Gomeo Romeo flew early pacing his first quarter in 26.6 before sprinting home in 57.6 and 27.9 seconds for the final 800m and 400m. Pembrook Benny (Barry Purdon) and Sir Lincoln (Maurice McKendry) filled the minors some 3-1/4 lengths and a length back. After the race Small said he would now sit down with the 5-year-old’s owner Laurie Henwood. “I can’t tell you if we will pay the late nominations to go to Perth for the Inter Dominions until I sit down with Laurie. He has all the say in what this horse does. I just give him a bit of advice when he asks for it. “I can tell you that I was very confident that he would win tonight. He worked brilliantly during the week and I thought he would take some beating,” Patumahoe-based Small said. It was Gomeo Romeo’s first win since claiming the Group One $100,000 Woodlands Stud Taylor Mile at Alexandra Park last April. Small said he had been happy with his stable star since he aimed him at the New Zealand Cup back in November. “He hasn’t had too much luck lately and I was happy with his run for fourth after he missed away in the Cup. He went well behind Sir Lincoln on a hot pace last time. “There’s not much racing left for him here but it would be silly to spell him after tonight’s win. I’ll talk to Laurie and we will go through all the Australia options,” Small said. Gomeo Romeo has now won $334,041 in career purses. He was bred by Mrs M. J. Downey, G. R. Downey, and K. R. Downey. The last 12 winners – and winning times – of the Group Two Sky City Flying Mile have been (drivers in brackets) 2011: Pembrook Benny (Tony Herlihy) 1:53.68. 2010: Changeover (David Butcher) 1:55.15. 2009: Auckland Reactor (Mark Purdon) 1:53.56. 2008: Baileys Dream (Ricky May) 1:55.16. 2007: Jag Star (Derek Balle) 1:54.66. 2006: Howard Bromac (Kurt Larsen) 1:55.18. 2005: Mister D G (David Butcher) 1:57.02. 2004: Elsu (David Butcher) 1:57.02. 2003: Young Rufus (Mark Purdon) 1:54.87. 2002: Holmes D G (Barry Purdon) 1:54.55. 2001: Ouch (Brent Mangos) 1:56.19. 2000: The Tuff Nut (Ricky May) 1:56.58. Gomeo Romeo

Cowgirls N Indians Wins Breeders Crown

zenola — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:41:26 +0000

Cowgirls N Indians’ tears tendon: rehab now

Ian Small pictured – congratulating David Butcher.

Cowgirls N Indians’ unbelievable Australasian Breeders Crown triumph has come at a cost. The sensational Kiwi filly injured herself winning her A$312,000 final at Melton on Sunday (August 21) and is unlikely to race for six months.

Trainer Ian Small confirmed suspicions raised when the 3-year-old daughter of Real Desire returned to scale looking proppy in her action on Sunday.

“She has a tear in a tendon which will take a bit of rehabbing,” said Small.

“There could have been a small problem there for a few weeks, which might explain why she hung a bit on Sunday.

“But hopefully, it is not going to be a serious long-term thing.”

Cowgirls N Indians stamped herself one of the most exciting young pacing fillies produced in New Zealand when she overcame sitting parked and not handling the last bend smoothly to run down Australia’s best filly La Machane on Sunday.

The performance was especially brave as the leg was obviously annoying her during the race and almost certainly caused her home-bend wobble.

Cowgirls N Indians will miss the fillies features at Alexandra Park’s December carnival with her most likely target next year being the New Zealand Oaks and the Harness Jewels.

That means Small has two of New Zealand racing’s hottest females on ice at his stables, with champion mare De Lovely also recovering from injury.

Herself an Australasian Breeders Crown winner, De Lovely missed the Harness Jewels this year because of injury but is now back aqua-jogging.

“She will tell us when she is ready to start track work again but she definitely isn’t a New Zealand Cup contender and I’d say she won’t race until after Christmas.”

Cowgirls N Indians Diamond Winner

zenola — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 23:55:02 +0000

Cowgirls N Indians gave Ross Johnson and Janene Cole their greatest moment as harness racing owners when she came with a blistering late burst to photo finish Dancing Diamonds and O Baby in the Two-Year-Old Diamond. The high came just a few months after one of their lows, when the filly’s dam, Barn Dance Betty, died after foaling at Ken and Ann-Marie’s Rosedale Farm in Christchurch. “The foal was presented backwards and they did a great job of keeping it alive. “But the mare went toxic and she died a day later.” The Art Major foal was kept alive with a foster mother and colostrum from the Spicer’s freezer. “We’re going to race the filly together and we’ve called her Elly May Clampett.” Johnson, a director of horse transport company IRT, said it was no great breeding theory that resulted in his sending Barn Dance Betty to Real Desire to get Cowgirls N Indians. “It was just a fluke. I tried to breed her with frozen semen from Artsplace and she didn’t get in foal. I hadn’t given Alabar a mare that season so I thought I’d try Real Desire. I’d seen him in quarantine and he looked okay.” The resulting foal had turned into the fastest horse he’d raced in 25 years as an owner. “This filly has unbelievable speed and she’s tough.”

Gomeo Romeo wins Laurie Henwood Group One Victory

zenola — Sun, 01 May 2011 20:57:14 +0000

For harness racing owner Laurie Henwood, winning the Woodlands Stud Taylor Mile with Gomeo Romeo meant far more than the $65,786 winner’s stake, or the Group I status. The significance of the success for the little man with the big humour became apparent immediately after the race in the hospitality room at Alexandra Park, which was packed with his newfound family.

When Henwood lost his wife after a five-year battle with cancer, he turned to racing horses to fill the void, and he found what he was looking for at Patumahoe’s Zenola Farm.

They were all there on Friday night to celebrate the upset win in one of the hottest fields in years – and they were all on Henwood’s thank you list – trainer Ian Small, his brother Geoff, his wife Aria – “the stable’s chief executive” – and stable drivers David and Philip Butcher.

The stable staff, often the forgotten cogs in the wheel, according to Henwood, weren’t forgotten.

Neither was race sponsor Charlie Roberts, 87, of Woodlands Stud, who got a mention in dispatches for his longevity – “he’s about 120 and still keeps on keeping on” said the man who turns 80 himself next month.

Henwood, a former town milk farmer, didn’t get his first share in a racehorse until 2005, when he enjoyed success with six-race winner Alpine Dream.

Today, he races some of the best-known pacers in the Small colours, owning them outright or in syndicates, including Gomeo Romeo (12 wins), Mighty Creation (nine) and J Walker (six).

Ian Small’s conditioning skills might have seen Gomeo Romeo win on Friday night, when he sprinted up the passing lane to pip race favourite Smiling Shard, but Henwood said he owed having the horse at all to Geoff Small.

“I had two sorted out at the yearling sales. J Walker was first choice and Gomeo was second choice.

“I would have waited `til the end of the sale to try to buy J Walker but Geoff told me he’d probably go for $100,000, so I bid on my second choice and got him for $32,000.”

Henwood said he selected his own horses. “Being retired I have plenty of time to study the catalogues.

“But you still need a lot of luck. You can look at all the information but you can’t see how big their heart and lung capacity is.”

Henwood left it late in life to start racing horses, but he always had an interest, and recalls the days when owner-trainers were everywhere round the Mangere farm, where he’d milk his cows after tearing home after the sixth race at the trots.

He had an uncle, JT [Jim] Paul who won the 1932 Auckland Trotting Cup with Great Parrish, but Henwood reckons winning the big four-year-old double in Friday night’s $100,000 Messenger Championship would just about be as big for him.

“I wasn’t expecting Gomeo to win tonight. We thought he’d go close next week.

“That’s not to say you should back him – I want a reasonable divvy.”

Delovely Returns home

zenola — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 19:15:18 +0000

What was meant to be a normal flight to Christchurch for Delovely and caretaker Geoff Small, ended up being a joy ride around in circles. Only 20 mins out from Christchurch Airport, the captain told passages that fog had set in and the plane could not land. Therefore the plane turned around and flew back to Auckland, and in an hour after arriving was back on the truck with Delovely happily wondering what was that all about?

Well that plan didn’t go quite how we had wanted it too, said Geoff after the aborted flight. Delovely is suppose to race on Friday at Addington, so will look at working her at home tomorrow and then hope she can get a flight on Thursday? That’s racing, said Geoff happy to be safe on the ground rather than a rough ride into Christchurch.

Gomeo Romeo Wins Furtity

zenola — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:57:41 +0000

It was only a matter of time before Gomeo Romeo won his first Group race. The Smalls think a lot of the talented 4-year-old and tonight (Friday January 14) at the Cambridge – Te Awamutu Harness racing Clubs meeting it was his sheer explosiveness – at the 350 metre mark – that put paid to a quality harness racing field of Group Two pacers.

We had always believed that the son of Presidential Ball was a pacer that , with time and experience, could develop into a very nice racehorse. He more than reaffirmed that opinion with Group success in the $50,000 JLT 4 & 5 yo Futurity Stakes for 3 -8 win pacers at Cambridge Raceway.

Geoff Small back Driving

zenola — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 23:04:26 +0000

Geoff Small back driving at Tauherenikau

He might not be back training yet but Patumahoe horseman Geoff Small was driving at the Wairarapa Harness Racing Club’s dual code meeting at Tauherenikau today (Sunday January 2). Small drove for his brother Ian for the first time in a 2-4 win claiming pace. On December 23 Harness Racing Victoria granted Small a stay of proceedings in his current case, which originally saw him banned from any association with harness racing for six months – ending May 1, 2011. Until the stay was granted Small had served one month and 20 days of his six-month suspension. The stay is in place until an appeal on the decision is heard on April 4-6. Today Small drove Matai Mies in the 2000m mobile $8,000 event. The black Elsu 4-year-old mare was backed into second favourite, but broke and finished 11th of 12. However Small would have still left today’s four-race dual code meeting with the Wairarapa Racing Club with a huge smile on his face. Brother Ian won three of the four races on offer and finished second in the other. His winners were Elias Bromac in race one, Awohali in race two and Franco Hendrix in race four. McAmber finished a three quarter length second behind the Philip Fleming trained Broadway in the second event. Cambridge reinsman David Butcher drove all four pacers. Incidentally, the fourth race was a Butcher benefit. David won behind Franco Hendrix, nephew Shane was second on Raven while David’s son Zac completed a $528.20 family trifecta steering Arts Bo into third. As yet Small (Geoff) has not transferred any of his former horses back into his name, preferring at this stage to assist his brother in the current structure. WAIRARAPA HIGHLIGHTS: Top Driver: David Butcher 3 wins. Top Trainer: Ian Small 3 wins.

Delovely It’s In Her Blood

zenola — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 21:17:03 +0000

Delovely stuns the crowd & rival trainers with a stunning display of power & speed in last weeks Group Three $30,000 Caduceus Club Northern Breeders Stakes.

Delovely was having her first start back since winning the Harness Jewels, Breeders Crown and the Australian Oaks last season. On that performance Delovely will start at miniscule odds in this Friday’s Group One $100,000, Queen of Hearts Pace for the country’s best mares.

Delovely is bred to Northern Hemisphere time, by Falcon Seelster out of former NZ 3 Year Old of her year Copper Beach. She has the breeding, speed and stamina which has made this family one of the most sort after families in Australasia.

Copper Beach has a two year old filly by Christian Cullen working through her paces and has her first colt by Mach Three entered in the 2011 Karaka Yearling Sales in Feb.

Delovely is bred & owned by the Les Girls Syndicate No2 which includes 6 ladies, 5 from the original Les Girls Syndicate of 25 ladies back in 1982.

Delovely

Here’s the video

Delovely Wins Breeders Crown Semi – heat

zenola — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 03:28:07 +0000

De Lovely Sings Rivals A Merry Tune

De Lovely was named after one of Cole Porter’s biggest hits, but it might be another of his signature songs, Night and Day, that best expresses the growing chasm between the brilliant filly and her Tabcorp Australasian Breeders Crown rivals.

The daughter of Falcon Seelster strengthened an already vice-like grip on the $188,000 Group 1 3YO Fillies Final when she cruised home by 17 metres in the second semi-final with ear plugs in tact.
Sent out a raging $1.10 favourite in the second semi, the Geoff Small-trained superstar ambled past her rivals to take up the running through a steady lead time of 45.7-seconds before reinsman David Butcher stepped on the breaks.

A casual final first half of 61.8-seconds followed with De Lovely cruising at the head of affairs clear of polemarker Forest Babe on her back and Miss Trickin Lombo who circled the field down the back straight a clear third.

After a 29.7-second third term, Butcher released the shackles and the highest rated filly in Australasia responded with a 26.6sec final split to complete a 1:57.8 mile rate.

Awesome Armbro Turning Heads in Canada

zenola — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 03:27:11 +0000

Awesome Armbro turning heads in Canada

Duane Ranger photo Our Awesome Armbro and David Butcher – outsprints Ohoka Utah (7), & Cincinnati Kid (9) in ID09.

Duane Ranger photo (Philp Butcher salutes the judge with – Awesome Armbro at Alexandra Park last September.

Top New Zealand free-for-all pacer Awesome Armbro is starting to turn heads in Canada. The former Geoff Small trained gelding was sold and exported to Canada on May 28. Seven days later he won a Mohawk harness racing qualifier by eight lengths in 1:53.3 (see video).

That was his fastest ever mile and the time was 5.7 seconds under the required qualifying mark.

“Everyone is talking about him up here. He impressed so much he has turned a few heads alright,” said co-owner and trainer Isaac Waxman.

Now named Awesome Armbro N, the 8-year-old son of Armbro Operative and Abbeybell (New York Motoring) will make is Canadian debut this Saturday (June 12)- (5.15am, Sunday June 13 – NZ Time) in a $26,000 Mile on the same track he qualified on. He has drawn one of 10 and Waxman believes he will take all sorts of beating.

“He qualified large. In fact Luc said he won ridiculously easy under a hold. Casie Coleman had a very good open free-for-aller in the race named All American Swift, who had the two hole – and he dealt to her.

“He’s a very natural athlete. He looks great. In fact everything about him is good. And the great thing is that with time he can only get better,” the Dundas (Ontario) trainer said.

Luc is Luc Ouellette, one of Canada’s best reinsman, who has driven 8,237 winners since 1984, including 63 in 2010.

“The thing Luc and I like about him is that he’s not stupid on the track. He gets right down to business. I can’t believe how well he’s adjusted. We shaved him completely when he got here and he hasn’t been sick once. He’s eating up everything and seems to be thriving. He’s one sharp and serious racehorse,” Waxman told Harnesslink today (Thursday) from Ontario.

Awesome Armbro N drew seven of seven in his qualifier six days ago. He won ridiculously easy pacing the mile in 1:53.3. His prior sectionals were 28, 59, and 1:27.1.

“The thing Luc liked about him was that he never really asked him to go for it in the final quarter yet he still managed to go 26.2. He was under no pressure whatsoever. I want more Kiwi horses. Holmes Hanover’s if you know of any,” Waxman said.

The 23-year-old might be youthful but he is no stranger to training Kiwi horses. Other Kiwis he has conditioned include Scapa and Lyn Of Tawa. However the best horse he has so far trained has been Mach It Paid, who has won 20 races (one this season) and $193,220.

But Awesome Armbro N is definitely the flavour of the month.

“Some horses go through the motions but you can tell this fella really wants to race. We trained him two days before he qualified on the farm track and when he went a final 27 quarter without really trying. That’s when we knew we were on to something good.

“Hopefully he can now kick on and hold his head high in all the bigger races later this season,” Waxman said.

Awesome Armbro N spent much of his career racing in the shadow of New Zealand Cup winner and stablemate, Changeover. He started his career at Cambridge Raceway in March 2005.

In New Zealand he won 19 of his 85 starts and placed in 24 others for $648,754. His quickest mile was 1:55.6. As well as last year’s Interdominion Consolation Grand Final, he also won the $50,000 Elsu Classic in 2006; the $35,000 Cambridge Classic in 2007; and the $45,000 Summer Cup, also in 2007.

Awesome Armbro, who was driven by Philip Butcher for most of his career, also placed in several major Group One events -including a third behind Auckland Reactor in last year’s $600,000 Auckland Cup and a second behind the same horse in the $300,000 New Zealand Free-For-All in 2008.

His most recent win was over New Zealand’s rising pacing star – Tintin In America – in this year’s $15,000 Manukau Free-For-All at Alexandra Park. He was sold abroad by South Auckland-based JC International Ltd.

Awesome Armbro was bred by the Westminster Breeding Syndicate and was owned by the Auckland Trotting Club’s Trot 2005 Syndicate.

Waxman has only been training since 2006 but since then has recorded 162 wins. He has also driven 12 winners this season and 17 all up since first getting in the bike in 2008.